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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:
The novel’s mood is defined by the fact that tragedy is inevitable and constant. Several of the novel’s main themes, such as racism, gender roles, and community identity, manifest in the story as cyclical patterns of behavior that ultimately remain unresolved. Especially as the novel’s Prologue outlines Bottom’s origin and eventual downfall, the reader is made immediately aware that some stories do not have happy endings.
This remains true for the main characters of the novel. Despite their individual efforts, the overwhelming presence of racism in America and unequal gender roles prevent the characters from truly achieving their goals or dreams. Sula, for example, attempts to exercise independence and a departure from the traditional roles of wife or mother by attending college and leaving Bottom for 10 years. Upon returning, however, she finds that the lifestyle she has chosen—to remain unmarried, to disregard standards of monogamy that other women around her value—has left her isolated and alone. When Sula falls in love with Ajax and begins to show signs of traditional womanhood, Ajax flees, leaving Sula alone once again. Sula ends up dying prematurely, and despite her tenacity and unique mindset, Morrison makes clear that Sula, alone, could not inspire the change she hoped for.
Sula is, of course, merely one example of the novel’s tragic mood. The demise of Bottom and its residents at the end of the novel is perhaps what truly cements this idea. Rather than providing a happy ending, Morrison encourages the reader to question how these cycles of racism and sexism can actually be altered. Thus, the novel’s mood functions to model the potential for both extreme tragedy and true societal change.
Related Themes:
